Oldham are feeling the ‘ow’ in ‘owski’ with stars James Tarkowski and James Wesolowski both facing late fitness tests ahead of tonight’s FA Cup fifth-round replay against Everton, writes Mike Keegan.

Oldham are feeling the ‘ow’ in ‘owski’ with stars James Tarkowski and James Wesolowski both facing late fitness tests ahead of tonight’s FA Cup fifth-round replay against Everton, writes Mike Keegan.

The influential pair are both expected to recover from niggles to start at Goodison Park – where caretaker boss Tony Philliskirk’s men will attempt to stun the nation once again.

The boys from Boundary Park, backed by a travelling army of more than 4,000, are confident of sending another bunch of Scousers packing.

They knocked Liverpool out of the competition in the last round and salvaged another crack at the other lot from across Stanley Park thanks to towering striker Matt Smith’s last-gasp equaliser.

On-loan flyer Jordan Obita, who put Latics 1-0 up in the first clash against the Toffees, issued the rallying call.

“We can win,” said the teenager, who is hoping parent club Reading will allow him to extend his one-month stay.

“It would be a massive surprise but we can do it.”

Former City man Lee Croft – Latics’ other wing wonder who has been a revelation in recent weeks – will again attempt to terrorise Leighton Baines, who he believes is best left-back in England.

He revealed a hard word from goalkeeping coach Paul Gerrard, currently Philliskirk’s No.2, did the trick following a poor spell which saw criticism from some quarters over his fitness levels.

“Gezza said ‘let’s get you back firing’ and I think it’s the best thing I have done,” he said. “I feel really good in myself.

“I’ve gone for it, worked hard and I’m really enjoying my football.”

Target man Smith, a 6ft 6in university graduate, is expected to start after coming off the bench in Saturday’s 1-0 League One win over Portsmouth. The 23-year-old has grabbed the headlines with his two goals against Liverpool and late leveller in the first match with Everton and has been billed as one of Britain’s brainiest footballers thanks to his studies – but Wiganer Croft is not so sure.

“He’s not clever, he just talks posh,” he said.

Laid-back Philliskirk, who had his side practice penalties yesterday just in case tonight’s match goes the distance, cannot wait to pit his wits against David Moyes again. He said: “I am looking forward to the experience, to stand on the touchline in the FA Cup fifth round against a top team from the Premier League and against one of the best British managers in the past 11 years.

“Whatever happens, I’ll always have that on the CV.

“I spoke to David for 15 minutes before the first game and he’d personally come to our game against MK Dons.

“He’d watched the DVDs of every round we’d played in and he got what he thought he was going to get, which was a very tough game. David gave us the utmost respect and I’m sure he will in the replay. It’s a massive game for Everton, a great opportunity for them. They’ll be thinking about going on and getting a Wembley appearance if they get past us and Wigan.

“Whatever games we’ve had, we’ve had no DVDs, no match reports or anything on the opposition.

We’ve tried to reiterate to the players that if we do what we’re good at we’ll give anybody a game, certainly in League One.”

EVERTON v OLDHAM - the facts

Everton have won the league title nine times, the Division Two title once, the FA Cup five times and the European Cup Winners’ Cup once. Oldham have won the Second, Third and Third Division North titles once each, and the Lancashire Senior Cup three times.

Oldham’s first colours were red and white hoops, eventually changing to white with a blue stripe down the middle. One of Everton’s earliest kits was all black, to which a scarlet sash was later added as the all-black kit was considered too depressing.

Ian Wood made 525 league appearances for Oldham between 1965 and 1979. Everton’s appearance record is held by goalkeeper Neville Southall, who played in 750 first-team matches between 1981 and 1997.

Oldham’s record league defeat is their famous 13-4 capitulation to Tranmere in Division Three North on Boxing Day 1935. Everton’s record defeat is 7-0, which they have suffered on three separate occasions to Sunderland (1934), Wolves (1939) and Arsenal (2005).

Everton pipped Oldham to the league title in 1914-15, taking the silverware by a single point with the Latics recording their best position of second. It was the last season before the outbreak of the First World War.

Everton paid a record £15m for Marouane Fellaini

Everton’s record transfer fee is the £15m they paid to Belgian side Standard Liege for Marouane Fellaini in September 2008. Oldham’s record fee paid, however, is just £750,000 which they paid to sign Ian Olney from Aston Villa in 1992.

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